Thrillers

Book Review: Silver Nitrate

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Montserrat is an audio editor in the 1990s Mexico City film scene, but she’s constantly being overlooked and overworked. Her best friend Tristán is a washed-up soap star just waiting for the phone to ring with his next audition. When Tristán befriends the elderly and renowned director Abel, all three dive into the stories and screens of years gone by. Abel sees the two young people as an opportunity to finish his long-forgotten film, a production that stopped under mysterious, magical and possibly murderous circumstances. As Montserrat and Tristán dive deeper into the world of the missing scenes, it appears that Abel isn’t just hiding the finished film…but the secrets of the obscure occultist behind the film.

Through a cast of characters, supernatural experiences, and 90s nostalgia (pagers anyone?), Silvia Moreno-Garcia keeps readers guessing as they make their way through this book. Part horror, part fantasy, part historical fiction, Silver Nitrate is an genre-bending story that touches on unfulfilled wishes, dreams, and even the occasional curse.

If you like stories of old Hollywood glam, enjoy spooky stories, or are a fan of Moreno-Garcia’s previous work, pick this one up!

Request a print copy here or a digital copy here.

Happy Reading!

-Melinda

Book Review: The Writing Retreat

MelindaLeave a comment

Alex is a young writer suffering from a severe case of writer’s block. When literary idol Roza Vallo decides to host a writer’s retreat, Alex ends up as one of the lucky few selected for the once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the best. Held at the gorgeous but eerie Blackbriar Estate, Roza’s retreat is sure to give Alex the kick start she needs to resume writing. Famed for her privacy, Roza welcomes the five young writers into her secluded home and lavish lifestyle. The house itself has a history of spiritualism and murder that is well-documented in the home’s library. What could be better for an aspiring horror writer?

But there’s a problem. Alex’s ex-friend Wren is also selected for the retreat, and things between them ended badly (to put it mildly). When the two come face to face, tension rises as they fight for control of their friendship’s story. Roza puts forth a strict schedule for the retreat and surprises the attendees with a shocking proposition. The writer with the best manuscript at the end of the month will win a one million dollar contract. Stakes are raised as each writer begins to work on what they hope will become their big-ticket debut.

Roza has more than one surprise up her sleeve, and as Alex begins her one-on-one coaching relationship with the legendary author, she realizes that some things are not as harmless as they appear. As a snowstorm looms, the retreat quickly leads to unsettling discoveries as the house and its occupants reveal their true intentions.

This wasn’t my favorite locked-room snowstorm thriller, but if you’re a thriller fan like me you’ll find yourself turning pages to see what happens next! If you enjoyed the setting and vibe of this book, try The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse, One by One by Ruth Ware, or The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley.

Book Review: The Couple at the Table

MelindaLeave a comment

Newlyweds Jane and William are enjoying their honeymoon at the beautiful Tevendon Resort. But when William’s ex-wife Lucy shows up with her new partner Pete, Jane accuses them of ruining their getaway. Jane receives a note to “beware of the couple at the table nearest to yours.”

She immediately blames Lucy, but at dinner that night she’s surprised to find that the tables are all equally spaced…which means that every other couple is also a potential suspect. In a tirade Jane leaves the dining room only to end up dead within hours.

Sophie Hannah brings her loveable crime-solving duo Simon and Charlie back for another case, and this time they’re witnessing the crime firsthand. As guests at the resort, Simon and Charlie quickly pack up their vacation vibes and step into the role of investigators.

This book is a whodunnit-style mystery where motive, means, and opportunity are explored through multiple narrators. Sophie Hannah is one of my must-read authors, and while this book wasn’t my favorite, it was still an enjoyable read!

Request a print copy here or download a digital copy here.

-Melinda

I Read YA: The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis

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The Initial Insult

Tress Montor had status in Amontillado, Ohio until her prominent parents vanished without a trace while driving her then best friend, Felicity Turnado, home one night seven years ago. After being orphaned Tress went to live with her grandfather at his wildlife attraction, known by the locals as the “White Trash Zoo”. Tress’s fall from grace was swift and her friendship with Felicity was over. Tress could not accept Felicity’s claim that she had no memory of that fateful night. So Tress does what she needs to in order to get by and she stews and plots until she has the perfect plan to get Felicity to talk. At a Halloween party in an abandoned house Tress lures Felicity to the basement, where she begins to bury Felicity alive behind a brick wall that she lays a row at time. Meanwhile, upstairs, the town’s teens suspect nothing. They are falling victim to the flu-like illness that is spreading through Amontillado. Also, a panther from the zoo is on the loose.
Inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, this is another dark and mesmerizing offering from Mindy McGinnis. The second book in the duology, The Last Laugh, is also available.

Review: All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris

MeganLeave a comment
Find it here.
Ellice Littlejohn escaped her poor, small-town Georgia life at 14 and has rarely looked back since building a successful life and law career for herself in Atlanta. She does the best she can to help her younger brother, Sam, but his past run-ins with the law and her fancy corporate lawyer gig means that Ellice keeps the two parts of her life separate. She was successful at that until the morning she arrives at work to find her boss and lover, Michael, dead in his office. In a whirlwind of events in the aftermath of Michael’s murder Ellice finds herself in the center of a conspiracy that she never saw coming. 

This debut novel has it all-secrets, lies, murder, and suspense. Mixed in with all the action and drama are themes of racism, white supremacy, and family secrets. 

Readalikes:

What I’m Currently Reading & What’s Next

Nicole3 Comments

In typical librarian fashion, I am always reading a book or two, in addition to having a plethora of books sitting in various to-be-read piles in my house. Back in the days of spending time at my library office desk, I would always keep a book there to read during my meal breaks (stares nostalgically out window thinking of my desk…). Of course, now that I’m home most of the time I keep a book in the dining room to read during lunch breaks. There is always a book on my night stand (usually my Kindle hangs out there) as well and a book on my coffee table, so I’m prepared for reading at all times. Take a look below to see what I’m currently reading and what I have lined up for the next couple months!

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

I was so excited to snag an ARC of this book from NetGalley! I’m only about halfway through but it is great so far. After escaping a dangerously strict religious compound, where she was forced to marry the nefarious leader Reverend Sherman, teenage Vern escapes to the woods pregnant and alone. She gives birth to twins in the forest and tries her best to survive the harsh realities of this isolated life, all the while being pursued by a mysterious fiend, odd hallucinations, and experiencing uncanny changes in her body and abilities.

You can read a full review of this novel from my colleague Shannon by clicking here!

Something is Killing the Children: Volume 2 by James Tynion IV

Collecting issues #6-10 of this horror comic series, readers catch up with monster killer Erica Slaughter after she has slain the beast who was terrorizing the small town of Archer’s Peak. The only problem is that the monster had babies and now they are loose in the town. A mysterious man from The House of Slaughter arrives (is this the monster slayer version of a Watcher?) to help clean up the mess but seems to make matters worse.

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson

I am not usually an audiobook person, but every once in a while I check out an audiobook on Hoopla to listen to while I’m in the kitchen. I adore Shirley Jackson but have yet to read all her short stories and this audiobook has been a joy to listen to. Humorous, dark, and sometimes tragic, this powerful collection of haunting stories is read by a variety of voice actors making for an interesting and engaging experience.

What’s next for me? I have Tender is the Flesh by Agustina María Bazterrica, on deck, which was recommended by multiple authors in a recent Women in Horror author panel I viewed. It’s been on my want to read list for a while but after hearing some amazing authors highlight it as one of their favorite books of last year, I knew I needed to bump it up the pile! Another book that was shared in the panel and recommended to me by a friend is Maria Dahvana Headley’s Beowulf: A New Translation. I just got the ebook loaded on my Kindle thanks to OverDrive and can’t wait to start it. Finally, I’m patiently waiting for a digital copy of The Push by Ashley Audrain to arrive for me!

What is on your to-be-read pile? What are you currently reading? Share in the comments and happy reading!

Megan’s Favorite Books of 2020

MeganLeave a comment

This year mysteries, thrillers, and true crime book topped my reading list. The Novel Scares book club forced me out of that comfort zone and introduced me to two of the books on my list-books I never would have selected for myself.

Mystery/Thrillers/Horror:

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

The Good House by Tananarive Due

Good Night Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Nonfiction/Memoirs

The Adventurer’s Son by Roman Dial

Good Kids, Bad City by Kyle Swenson

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

Delightful Surprises:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Sweet Murder by Tegan Maher

With the exception of Solutions and Other Problems, I listened to all of these books. The House in the Cerulean Sea was my absolute favorite book of 2020. It was the charming and thoughtful book that I needed during this difficult year.

~Megan

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Malloy

MeganLeave a comment

Dr. Sam Statler, a newlywed psychologist, is missing. He and his wife, Annie, recently moved from NYC to his small upstate New York hometown. The move serves two purposes-a fresh start for the couple and to be close to Sam’s ailing mother. Sam’s private practice is located in a charming old building with the perfect landlord. He spends his days listening to the problems of his mostly female clientele and his free time celebrating the small milestones in his marriage. This quiet life suits Sam, which is why Annie can’t believe he would have willingly disappeared. However, the search for her husband reveals that Sam may not be everything she believed him to be.

To be honest, it’s best to go into this book knowing as little as possible about it. Know that it is a strange and twisty story; a first rate psychological thriller. Sam has a reputation in his hometown. His sessions are being listened in on. And who is that French woman? Is Sam really missing or did he disappear? Readers will have questions and the author is stingy with the answers until the stunning truth is revealed. I listened to the audiobook version and at first I struggled with the narrator, but by the end I could not believe how perfect the narration was.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Malloy comes out October 13th. Add it to your TBR list and place a hold today

~Megan